Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 102: Elder Sister (Extra)

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Elder Sister (Extra)

Fengyu was safely escorted back to the Feng Mansion by Xie Xun. Before Fengyu had a chance to thank him, Xie Xun had already left with Feiying and Nuanyang. It was rare for the curfew to be lifted, and the night was bustling with activity as paintings and pleasure boats dotted the lake. The Kyoto Capital Guard was extremely busy.

Nuanyang, following orders, kept a close watch on Qiuxiang and Chunlu while reporting the gathered news to Xie Xun. "Master, word has it that the eldest Miss Feng fell into the lake and was saved by the Second Prince. She was escorted back to the Feng Mansion in full view of the public."

Xie Xun paused in his steps. "When did this happen?"

"An hour ago. The Third Miss hurried back upon hearing the news and separated from her maid in the process," Nuanyang clicked his tongue. "The marriage between the eldest Miss and Zhang Boxin seems unlikely to proceed now."

Recently, Zhang Boxin had performed exceptionally well in the Kyoto Capital Guard. Apart from Feiying and Nuanyang, Xie Xun found Zhang Boxin and Lin Xiao to be his most reliable aides.

Feiying remarked, "The Second Prince and the Feng Family’s young lady have no connections whatsoever. For a noblewoman to be rescued from the lake, it doesn’t bode well for her reputation. Could the eldest Miss be entertaining ideas of climbing the social ladder?"

"That’s hard to say," Nuanyang shrugged. "Who wouldn’t be tempted by royal power and riches?"

"Even if falling into the lake earned her the Second Prince’s rescue, at most, she might become a concubine," Feiying offered, deeply informed about the happenings. "Fang Lingjun remains unmarried; the Emperor had been considering a match between her and the Third Prince. But after the incident at the palace banquet, the Fang Family would undoubtedly refuse the alliance. If not the Third Prince, who else besides the Second Prince could she marry?"

"Noblewomen staging falls into lakes—such clumsy tactics—how many years has it been since anyone resorted to such tricks?" Xie Xun scowled in disdain; the method was crude and easily exposed.

"Master, that’s not all. Not only did Miss Feng fall into the lake; Miss Yuyan also did, and she was rescued by Mr. Jiang," Feiying added, hardly expecting such a coincidence.

"Which Mr. Jiang?" Xie Xun raised an eyebrow.

"Jiang Yang!"

"That does sound appropriate," Xie Xun said with cutting sarcasm. After a brief silence, his voice turned chilly as he asked, "Where was Fengyu when Miss Yuyan and Jiang Yang had their incident?"

Feiying shook his head, indicating that he hadn’t heard any connections between Fengyu and the matter. "She was likely with Miss Fang and Princess Xue Lan," he replied.

Xie Xun dismissed his concern as unwarranted. At that time, Fengyu was probably being hauled onto a pleasure boat by the Third Prince. Whatever happened between Miss Yuyan and Jiang Yang wasn’t necessarily her doing.

Fengyu ran home in a hurry, and as she entered the second gate, a familiar voice called out suddenly, "Slow down, or you’ll trip."

Fengyu looked over in delight, only to see a young girl garbed in a lake-blue winter coat standing under the porch with a warm smile. The girl’s features bore a seven-to-eight part resemblance to Fengyu, both boasting beautiful, captivating eyes. Her complexion wasn’t as pale as most girls in the Capital City; it radiated healthy rosiness. She was slender, tall, with her hair styled simply, adorned only by a rosebud hairpin. Her attire was plain and elegant, yet it did little to diminish her transcendent beauty.

"Elder sister..." Fengyu was overcome with joy and rushed forward. Feng Shu opened her arms with a laugh and embraced her sibling warmly. For the first time tonight, Fengyu felt unburdened, her worries gone. All she wanted was to let herself be pampered in her sister’s embrace. "I thought you wouldn’t return for the Lantern Festival."

"How could I break a promise to Ayu?" Feng Shu teased, touching Fengyu’s delicate nose and studying her. "You’ve lost weight."

Feng Shu had been away from the Capital for several months, during which much had transpired. Fengyu’s heart tinged with sadness and a touch of grievance. "A day without you feels like three autumns. I missed you so much I starved myself thin," Fengyu lamented.

Behind Feng Shu, Xia Zhu and Dongxue laughed at her words, and even Feng Shu couldn’t suppress her amusement. She took Fengyu’s hand and led her toward Songhe Garden. Feng Shu didn’t pry into what had transpired in recent months.

"Were the lanterns beautiful?"

"Very much so. I even released a wishing lantern."

"Ayu’s first time releasing a lantern—what did you wish for?"

"To strike it rich next year."

Feng Shu laughed heartily, "Alright, next time I’ll have a bed forged from gold for you to sleep on."

In Songhe Garden, Feng Changlin, Lady Feng, and Feng Wan had just departed. The old matron was clutching her chest, her sorrow so profound her eyes were red with anger. Even the joy of Feng Shu’s return was completely overshadowed. Feng Wan and Zhang Boxin had met several times and were mutually satisfied, their families having nearly finalized the engagement. Everything had seemed poised for completion.

Who would’ve anticipated such an incident? Several princes from the Yuwen Family shared connections with the Feng Family’s daughters. Feng Wan had merely exchanged pleasantries with the Second Prince. Yet who could have foreseen the stampede by the riverbank that resulted in her being shoved into the water?

"Grandmother, what’s done is done; dwelling further will bring no relief," Feng Shu said gently yet firmly, as she kneaded the old matron’s shoulders. "Tomorrow, let Auntie probe Mrs. Zhang’s stance. We must staunchly assert that elder sister was pushed into the water and framed. We cannot let her reputation be sullied with rumors of social climbing. If the engagement is annulled, we must await the palace’s next move. When the Emperor was a Vassal King, his spouses came from modest backgrounds, and the Princess Consort De’s familial influence is weak. He’s long sought to bond with the Fang Family, so he has no motive to push elder sister into the river. Our family’s standing is such that aiming for a Princess Consort rank is undeniably ambitious. There’s a chance elder sister might not have to marry the Second Prince. However, her future marriage may require some compromise."

"But what if he wants Wanwan to be his concubine?"

"Then it stands to reason that the incident of her falling into the water has everything to do with him," Feng Shu said calmly. "It will depend on elder sister’s own wishes. First option: leave the Capital for several years or marry outside of Kyoto to escape the rumors. Second option: accept the Imperial decree, enter his inner court as a concubine, and make the best of her life. Third option: calmly wait for a more suitable match, disregard this episode entirely, or establish her own household independently and remain unmarried—she could still lead a fulfilling life."

Feng Shu, a product of the old matron’s teachings, shared opinions with her elder. In reality, there was one additional option: to maneuver Feng Wan into becoming the Second Prince’s principal wife. But no one dared guarantee such an outcome. Feng Shu spoke soothing words to comfort the old matron until she finally fell asleep. Afterward, she took Fengyu to Plum Garden, with the four maids—Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—following closely.

Throughout Feng Shu’s conversation with the old matron, Fengyu listened silently, refraining from interrupting. Whenever Feng Shu was present, Fengyu preferred to take on a near-invisible role.

"Back when we were in Ningzhou, the Second Prince and elder sister shared some affection. But elder sister is not our full-blood sibling. Staging a fall into the lake is a tactic that invites exposure and peril. It hardly seems worth it," Fengyu commented. "Surely he’s not so foolish?"

"The human heart is inscrutable; childhood bonds mean little," Feng Shu replied.

"Let’s not dwell on unpleasant matters. Elder sister, why did you spend so many months in Jiangnan?"

Feng Shu chuckled softly. "I took a detour to Ningzhou."

"Did something happen to Father and Mother?" Fengyu asked anxiously.

Feng Shu shook her head, her ears turning faintly red. Fengyu immediately understood. "It was Xie Zhang. What happened to him?"

"In November, he led a cavalry unit deep into enemy territory, battling the Beiman forces for three days and nights. He sustained two arrows to the shoulder. He mentioned none of this in his letter; Mother revealed the truth in hers. I was so worried I traveled to Ningzhou to see for myself," Feng Shu explained.

Xie Zhang’s injuries had been perilously severe, forcing him to retreat to Ningzhou City to recover. By the time Feng Shu arrived, he had just regained enough strength to stand, prompting her to stay and nurse him back to health.

"As expected, only Xie Zhang can pull elder sister’s affection away from me," Fengyu said, her tone tinged with jealousy toward her brother-in-law, whose grace and poise captured everyone’s admiration.